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Soft sculpture

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Soft Sculpture by Janet Echelman

Soft sculpture is a type of sculpture or three dimensional form that incorporates materials such as cloth, fur, foam rubber, plastic, paper, fibre or similar supple and nonrigid materials. Soft sculptures can be stuffed, sewn, draped, stapled, glued, hung, draped or woven. These materials and techniques distinguish soft sculptures from more traditional hard sculptures made from, for example, stone, bronze or wood that are then carved or modelled.[1]

Soft sculpture is an old German technique very popular in Japan with artists like Yayoi Kusama boosting the heritages of this new and innovative medium for interior designers.

Soft sculptures were popularised in the 1960s by artists such as Claes Oldenburg and Yayoi Kusama. Claes Oldenburg and other members of the Art Pop Movement are accredited with the creation of soft sculpture.[2] During this time period members of the Art Pop Movement created art with themes of the times such as pop culture, consumerism, and mass production.[2] Oldenburg specifically would take average everyday items and make them larger than life; one of his most notable works of this time is the Floor Burger.[2] The Floor Burger is primarily made out of canvas filled with rubber foam and cardboard. It contains a large hamburger patty nestled in the middle of two tan buns with a pickle for garnish on the top.[2] Yayoi Kusama also is responsible for the rise of soft sculpture in the 1960s, although she believes that Claes Oldenburg copied some of her pieces.[3] One of her most popular soft sculpture works is entitled Accumulation No. 1. Kusama hand sewed and painted projections she called "phalluses," and placed them on an armchair. After this works first exhibition, people were surprised that Kusama had sexualized an everyday object.[4]

Soft sculpture was also a key feature during the 1970s in Post-Minimalist art.[5] Artists during this time would create sculptures using materials that they had around them.[5] A key artist during this time was Eva Hesse. One of Eva's most popular works does not have a title. It is composed of latex, string, rope and wire suspended from the ceiling.[6]

Soft Sculpture by Cosima von Bonin
Soft Heroes by Thomas Liu Le Lann

More recently, contemporary sculptors like Cosima von Bonin[7], Janet Echelman[8], Thomas Liu Le Lann[9] or Yayoi Kusama[10] have expanded the genre to address contemporary topics.


The following is a list of other artists who have worked with soft sculpture:

References

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  1. ^ Gipson, Ferren (2022). Women's work: from feminine arts to feminist art. London: Frances Lincoln. ISBN 978-0-7112-6465-6.
  2. ^ a b c d "Soft Sculpture". Art Gallery of Ontario. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
  3. ^ "Pop Art Ripoffs: The 3 Yayoi Kusama Artworks That Warhol, Oldenburg, and Samaras Copied in the '60s". Artspace. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  4. ^ "Yayoi Kusama. Accumulation No. 1. 1962 | MoMA". The Museum of Modern Art. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  5. ^ a b "Soft Sculpture". Artsy. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
  6. ^ "Eva Hesse | No title (1969-1970) | Artsy". www.artsy.net. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  7. ^ "COSIMA VON BONIN with Eleanor Heartney | The Brooklyn Rail". brooklynrail.org. 2024-08-19. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  8. ^ "Janet Echelman". The Conversation. 2023-03-23. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  9. ^ "Thomas Liu Le Lann: Wer ist Milo?". gallerytalk.net (in German). 2021-05-10. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  10. ^ Thuc, Caroline Ha (2022-11-14). "A Deep Dive into the Soft Sculptures of Yayoi Kusama". Sothebys.com. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
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